Sam McConnell

In 1996 Sam went to Namibia and decided to stay and became a desert guide. Over the next eight years led 78 safaris in the Namib and Kalahari deserts. During this period he was fortunate to spend time with the San Bushmen and other desert dwelling peoples of Southern Africa. He was elected onto the committee of the Namibian guides association in 2000, as well as attaining his guides badge 1.

Sam’s passion for deserts led him to walk solo and unsupported across the Dune Sea of the Namib Desert in 2002, from the Skeleton Coast to Dead Vlei. The subsequent documentary was broadcast on the National Geographic Channel and has been repeated worldwide. He was honoured with a fellowship at the Royal Geographical Society in 2004.

Since then he has worked as: Trek Leader, Medic, Expedition Coordinator, Expedition Director, Consultant and Technical Advisor on many different expeditions, in the UK, Patagonia, Jordan and the Sinai.

In 2007 he organised and led the Trans Sinai Expedition for bereaved children, crossing the peninsular in 14 days on foot. In 2011 he led nine people up the Skeleton Coast to Angola, on foot and unsupported - a world's first.

Since 1996 he has led over a hundred teams in desert environments.